Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Ferry Plaza Farmers MarketDozens of ferries may depart and dock each day at the historic Ferry Building – also the site of many retailers and upscale restaurants – but shoppers and foodies know it best for the popular weekly Ferry Plaza Farmers Market...San FranciscoUnited States37.795271066302-122.393682003021

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Party Earth Review
Dozens of ferries may depart and dock each day at the historic Ferry Building – also the site of many retailers and upscale restaurants – but shoppers and foodies know it best for the popular weekly Ferry Plaza Farmers...
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Party Earth
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Review

The Scene

Dozens of ferries may depart and dock each day at the historic Ferry Building – also the site of many retailers and upscale restaurants – but shoppers and foodies know it best for the popular weekly Ferry Plaza Farmers Market...

Downtown / Financial District, San Francisco –

Dozens of ferries may depart and dock each day at the historic Ferry Building – also the site of many retailers and upscale restaurants – but shoppers and foodies know it best for the popular weekly Ferry Plaza Farmers Market that sets up out front.

Three days a week, roughly a hundred farmers turn a stretch of sidewalk along Embarcadero Street into a whirling bustle of brightly colored awnings, organic produce, homemade peanut brittle, and throngs of people. Residents come from all over town to pick up a few choice veggies, while office workers from the Financial District pop over to grab a quick lunch at one of several restaurant tents.

Flitting from stand to stand, tourists snap photos and try their luck at the art of haggling, as canvassers clutching clipboards of petitions take advantage of the enormous crowds.

Budget-conscious college students are easily drawn in by the calls from farm representatives, who tempt onlookers with free seasonal samples of juicy tomatoes, vibrant red strawberries, and other goodies, while everyone from hippies to high-end ladies carries reusable totes as they load up on both common veggies and unusual heirloom varieties.

With such widespread diversity in both products and patrons, it’s no wonder Ferry Plaza Farmers Market attracts an estimated twenty-five thousand visitors every week.

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Tip from Emma:

Feel like getting all your week’s shopping done but don’t want to carry everything at once? On Saturdays, the Market offers a free service in which they hold all of your items while you keep shopping. Look for the green ‘Veggie Valet ’ sign right out front.

Crowd

Students, foodies, hippies, professional chefs, young professionals, office types, camera-toting tourists, moms with strollers, and the healthy wealthy. All ages.

Entertainment / Music

Mix of street musicians vying for attention. Free cooking demos featuring top chefs available on Saturdays. See a listing of special events at www.cuesa.org/calendar.

Food / Miscellaneous

In addition to the fresh produce and homemade snacks on hand, several restaurant food tents serve prepared meals. The Ferry Building itself is home to several permanent high-end restaurants, including the popular Vietnamese eatery The Slanted Door.

Nearest parking lots include the Embarcadero & Washington Lot and the 75 Howard Garage. Street parking can be difficult, but metered spaces are available. The market offers validated parking for the lot at Embarcadero & Washington.

What to Wear / Dress Code

Hot Nights / When to Go

Saturdays for the highest energy scene, the most vendors, and the biggest crowds. Tuesday or Thursday mornings to avoid the masses and speak at length and mingle with the merchants, area chefs, and devout foodies.

Close By

Ciao Bella Gelato (1 Ferry Building, Suite 8), steps away inside the Ferry Building, is a delicious way to end the Market experience.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
User Reviews

This farmers market is full of fresh produce, cheese, and tasty bites. I would recommend the "Cowgirl Artisan Cheese Shop" (inside the ferry building) for a delicious take-home snack. While you are there, there are plenty of places to eat at for a nice brunch. A great Kimchi Pancake is my treat of choice. Aside from an assortment of foods, the market is full of beautiful flowers that can warm up any apartment.

My perfect Saturday - people watching, good food, the view of the Bay, Blue Bottle coffee

Lots of dogs and kids (even though there's a no dogs sign). Lots of flowers and plants. Fruit and veggies. Cheese curd and lavender salt tastings. Young people in a band playing instruments and singing while you eat your lunch with the backdrop of the Bay Bridge. Street performers in the front - poet on an old school typewriter, balloon makers, violinist, people who pass out fruit tastings jk. Love this place. Best place to take visitors or have lunch.
Afterwards, stroll towards Market and explore the fountain and sculptures in Justin Herman Plaza. Peruse the stands selling trinkets. Share a goody at creme brulee cart. Go shopping in Union Square. Take the MUNI home. This is my perfect Saturday.

A blaze of colour and the hum of excited shoppers greeted me as I made my way round the farmers’ markets in the Ferry Plaza.
You will be hard pushed to uncover gastronomy gems as found in this market anywhere else in the world.
All of the fresh fruit and vegetables, with their layers of smells and stark colours, blew me away.
I've been to farmers’ markets before, but I've never experienced such high-quality and creative cuisine being showcased amid a maze of ethical traders .
I'd arrived with a tight budget but after being lured into trying out-of-this-world cheeses, unique olive breads and home-made hummus, I decided you only live once.
This foodies utopia is perched on the edge of San Francisco Bay , offering shoppers inspiring sea views.
Artisan delights can also be found among the endless lines of stalls and shops.
An electrifying energy, created by the bustling crowds exploring scores of products just adds to the magic of the outing.
Even children were drawn to this shoppers' paradise; sampling a cup of milk from the milk bars and having a brilliant time playing hide and seek between the swarms of stalls.
Everything sold there seemed to come under the title of 'organic' and being a vegetarian I've never found so many quirky meat alternatives as here.
While there, I learnt a lot of traders had switched back to sustainable methods of agriculture, which was an added bonus for me. Many businesses are so proud of this lifestyle that they are buzzing with enthusiasm to talk about it to you if you ask.
This is a must if you like food and find yourself in San Francisco.

Obviously, since you're going to San Francisco, you love food. It is, after all, one of the foodie capitals of the world, and nothing proves this more than the Ferry Building. It is what we foodies call "paradise," and that's no joke. It has specialty shops galore, and that's what makes it great. This is the kind of place where every shop owner loves what they sell, they are passionate, and above all, they are willing to give samples. Definitely check out the Stonehouse Olive Oil Company, Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese, and the Blue Bottle Coffee Shop. There's a lot to see for the meat and bread lovers too, not to mention the different kinds of pickles, sandwiches, international foods, and really I can't even keep going because there's too much to even describe. Go. You won't regret it.

The Ferry Building is filled with fun shops, eateries, and groceries. I really like walking through and picking up random things - a baguette from the bakery, some cheese from the excellent cheese shop, fruit from the fresh grocer. If it is a nice enough day I take everything outside and eat on a bench. Since the building is right next to the water the view is great, although the breezes can be chilly. I love that each shop is local - you can talk to the people that actually make/grow your food! This is a great place to stop for breakfast/lunch, and a good introduction to the unique SF food culture.

Since it's opening as a Farmer's Market/foodie haven several years ago, the Ferry Building has become an iconic gastronomic hot spot. Not only does it have an awesome farmer's market on the weekend, but it has delicious restaurants and specialty shops inside. The shops do get a bit pricey, but that's mostly because they are locally owned and aren't part of some massive faceless corporation. The best time to visit the Ferry Building is on a clear day when you can grab gelato and wander outside on the docks behind the building for a beautiful view of the bay bridge.

Its always fun to check out the farmers market at the Ferry Building! It definitely shows that San Francisco is not just a city but a community as well. There's definitely an eclectic group of people that are in this area. The Ferry Building is also a great building to check out and there are a lot of good shops to explore and restaurants to try out. If you're a foodie, there's a lot of gourmet shops to check out also. The building is right on the water so you also get a lot of great views. Definitely try to stop by!

This is definitely a San Francisco landmark. When I have friends and family visiting I always take them here. The food is great and there are a number of good options, not to mention an upbeat, modern atmosphere. Also, the market on Saturday mornings is delicious so if it fits into your schedule you should definitely check it out!

Definitely a must-go when you're in the city. There is truly something for everyone's taste buds at the Ferry Building whether you're in the mood for a gourmet grilled cheese, decadent gelato or some of San Fran's freshest produce. Definitely not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Plus, the view/location is to die for. Go go go!

This is one of my favorite spots in the city. Inside the ferry building there are so many great food options and it is so clean and nice to walk through. There is also a very nice view. On saturdays, I love waking up and going to the farmers market. It is one of the best ones I have been to...there are SO many options and great food varieties. There is fresh produce and also an art market across the street from the ferry building. I have bought the best nectarines and my favorite pair of earrings at the market here. On a sunny day it is one of the best experiences in the city.

I love coming here on the weekend! My roommate and I like to wake up really early and walk around through all the fresh produce and veggies. We often take samples and continue on through our walk. After we have gotten some coffee, pastries, or breakfast somewhere we gather up some fresh cut flowers for our house for the week. Then we go the week and start it all over again during the weekend. What is cool about this farmers market is that there is a produce market in front of the ferry building, but then there is a art market at the Embarcadero. This is a great thing to do with family over the weekend!

Every time I come back to the Bay Area, I have to head here for food, the farmer's market, the view of the Bay Bridge, and the amazing atmosphere. The Ferry Building itself has some of the best food you will ever try. (I have a serious love for Gott's Roadside. Their sweet potato fries, burgers, and milkshakes are fantastic.) The building has a bunch of specialty shops and flower places. In front of the ferry building is a marketplace where you can get homemade knickknacks (and the super popular friendship bracelets). There is something in this area for just about anyone and is super close to BART as well.
Also, if you happen to wake up early on a cold morning, this is the best spot for a run.

Food lovers, this place is totally overwhelming! SO much to choose from. Situated at the beautiful SF Ferry building, this placed is filled with locals, tourists, food connoisseurs, the weary 9-5 work crowd seeking a mini-getaway for some delicious food. I, being part of the latter, would go here all the time for one particular food stand, Hapa Ramen. I'm normally not a huge fan of Ramen but it is to die for. If ramen is not so much your thing, Namu always has a long line for their Korean sandwiches, and Wise Brothers Jewish Delicatessan's Pastrami Rueben I've also heard is quite good.
There is also a lot to choose from the indoor places! Blue Bottle coffee is arguably San Francisco's best coffee place. Try the New Orleans iced coffee. Long lines though. Hog Island Oysters is pretty good.
Then there's also all the fruit and produce stands. I'll sometimes buy some fresh berries, and it's nice to support local farmers. There's also samples for cheese, chocolates, fruits to try.
I've brought friends here who are visiting from out of town, (LA, DC, Texas) and they all rave about this place. &quot;It makes me want to move to SF!&quot; I'd say the longest lines are on Saturdays, but the scenery, food, and atmosphere make it a worthy excursion. Tip--&gt; Food stands tend to be cash only, there's an ATM inside the building, as well as the only public restrooms.